Teaching Team
Jesus Was Here
First century synagogue discovered in Magdala.
Happy Sukkot. Here is something to increase the simcha (joy) for disciples of Yeshua. Archaeologists last month uncovered a first century Galilean synagogue at Magdala, one in which our Master surely taught and prayed. This is the first Galilean synagogue ever discovered from the time of Yeshua.
Every time I go to the Galilee, I drive past the site of ancient Magdala, the town from which Mary Magdalene came, but have never stopped there. My brother and I agreed to add Magdala to the itinerary on the next First Fruits of Zion trip. Now we have an added incentive to do so.
The Youtube video clip below offers some nice pictures of the dig.
I wrote about Magdala in Torah Club Four's commentary on the Gospels and in my book King of the Jews. The following is a brief excerpt describing Magdala and the disciple of the Master whose name will forever be associated with the location.
Excerpt from King of the Jews
Before Herod Antipas built Tiberias, the regional administrative center was the nearby Jewish town of Magdala. Magdala (מגדלא) means "the tower." The seaside city may have been so named for a large stone and masonry tower structure which the archaeology of the site has revealed. Magdala sat on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, about a mile north of Tiberias, beneath the towering slopes of the Arbel cliff. It had a stadium and was probably one of the cities out of which Antipas governed Galilee prior to building Tiberias.
In the Talmud, we meet several sages who come from Magdala, including Yitzchak of Magdala and Yudin of Magdala. The Talmud [in Pesachim 46a] refers to Magdala as Migdol Nunnaya, which means "the tower of the fish." The Greek name of the city, often mentioned in the works of Josephus, is Tarecheie, which could be loosely translated as "sardines." Magdala was famous for its pickled and smoked fish industry. The fish of Magdala were exported all over the Roman world. The fish the Master divided when He fed the multitudes probably came from Magdala. One of the feedings of those multitudes may have happened a short distance up the shore from Magdala.
In the days of the Master, Magdala boasted the largest harbor and docks on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples must have often tied their boats at the docks there to bring their fish to market.
Magdala played an important role in the Jewish revolt and features prominently in Josephus's Jewish War as the scene of the disastrous naval battle of that confrontation.
Miriam from Magdala
Mary Magdalene means Miriam from Magdala. From the clues Luke gives us (8:1-3), we can piece her story together. Miriam from Magdala was a woman of some wealth and means. She apparently had friends in high places, including Yochanna the wife of Chuza, and may have been married to someone in Antipas' administration. However, she suffered from some debilitating affliction caused by seven evil spirits that vexed her.
She might have first encountered Yeshua when He and the disciples were in town selling a load of fish. She must have heard of His reputation as a healer and sought Him out for help. She was one of hundreds of people who came to the Master seeking His healing touch. When Yeshua saw her, He recognized that her affliction was caused by seven demons. He drove them out of her with a word, releasing her from Satan's grip.
The healed and restored woman demonstrated her gratitude by giving her life and finances to discipleship. She followed the Master and seems to have become the first among His female disciples.
D. Thomas Lancaster
19 Tishrei, 5770
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Visitor Feedback:
This is awesome! I hope you're allowed to take pictures when you visit the site so you can post them here at FFOZ.
MJ
MJ Belko | October 8, 2009 8:19 AM
Awesome! Isn't that the Flower of Life engraved on the Stone?
Colleen | October 18, 2009 12:58 PM